Deviated Septum Surgery

Septoplasty

Septoplasty

The Importance of the Nasal Cavity and the Septum

The nose and nasal area of the face is one of the most prominent features which contributes to the way a person looks. It has been said that a man blessed with an aquiline nose is an epitome of beauty. In addition, the nose is considered perhaps one of the most important criteria for distinguishing a woman’s facial appeal.

But, there can be things going on behind the scenes which can lead to issues that no one else is aware of…only the owner of the nose. Many of these behind the scene issue can contribute to a host of breathing issues including chronic sinus infection, snoring, inflamed nostrils, allergies, bleeding and sometimes even sleep apnea.

While enhancing beauty, the more important aspect of the nose is its function. The nose is a breathing apparatus and something that is wrong internally within that apparatus can drastically effects our breathing and the way we lives! There are many things that can go wrong inside the nose, but of of the more common conditions that directly affects the breathing and comfort in breathing of a person is the deviated septum

What exactly is a Deviated Septum?

In the nose, there is a thin wall dividing the nasal cavity and the nostril into two parts. This thin divider inside the nose is called the septum. While the wall dividing the nostril is is supposed to be centered, dividing the nasal passage into two equal sized halves, things are not always this perfect internally. Quite often, the dividing septum is skewed to one side, favoring one section of the nostril and dividing the cavity into two unequal halves. This condition is called the deviated septum.

Many people live with a mild case of a deviated septum without even knowing it. This is due to the internal partition being relatively minor and not affecting breathing. However in more extreme cases, when the septum favors one side of the nostril significantly, it causes major obstructions within the smaller cavity.

Such obstructions can cause serious obstacles in breathing which could result in a host of breathing and sleeping disorders.

Deviated Septum: Symptoms

If you are aware of the symptoms of the deviated septum, it can help you properly diagnose your condition and seek the proper treatment. Snoring, repeated sneezing, facial pain, nose bleeds or drips, difficulty in breathing, repeated sneezing, recurrent sinus infections and of course, sleep apnea are some of the identifiable symptoms of deviated septum. If you experience any of these, a diagnosis from a septum specialist is suggested.

The Effects of a Deviated Septum

How can a deviated septum affect a person’s life?

Two of the major effects of a deviated septum are Snoring and Chronic Sinus Infections.

The deviated septum is one of the most common causes for habitual snoring, which if left untreated can cause sleep apnea, a more serious health condition associated with several cardiac problems, many of which are fatal. A deviated septum can cause the affected individual to breathe through the mouth instead of the nose, because of the narrow passage and obstruction. During sleeping the uvula and soft palate tissues get relaxed and may even collapse and vibrate. The noise of this vibration is called snoring. Snoring is mainly an annoyance for most, but when ignored it can gradually turn into sleep apnea, a far more serious condition.

Another common effect of deviated septum is chronic sinus infection. This occurs when the septal obstruction prevents sinus drainage which results in sinus fluids accumulating in the sinus cavity. This accumulation soon turns into a breeding ground for sinusitis bacteria and left untreated can lead to one sinus infection after another.

About

As seen on E! Entertainment's Dr. 90210, Dr. Robert Kotler is the founder of the Cosmetic Surgery Specialists Group of Beverly Hills. As a Beverly Hills rhinoplasty specialist and facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Kotler has performed more than 10,000 major procedures during his 31 years in private practice.